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Bollywood Storm, Book One: New York

New York is a fabulous fun read! Without knowing what to expect N.K. Johel took me for a literary ride that happily surprised me with the turning of every page ... the usual formulas aren't there ... she seamlessly shifts gears through people, place and time giving intellectual and emotional insights into humanity from characters so real you'd expect to meet them on the street. There's a nice dance of lightness and depth ... the story flows like some beautiful river ... dive in! I'm really looking forward to reading Book 2: Mumbai

New York is easy to read with an interesting plot. Although it's a complex story it's well presented and easy to understand. As you approach the end of Book 1 you know that the plot will become even more complex in Book 2. N.K. Johel will surprise you with her character development and keep you wondering what could come next. Plan to be surprised along the way as the storyline twists.

I’m not a big fan of nonfiction but when a friend recommended Bollywood Storm, with glowing reviews, I couldn’t resist the urge to join the adventure. I wasn’t for even one second disappointed! Western white girl with a police badge and a supernatural gift meets Eastern mysticism, solves a series of befuddling crimes, and falls in love. The story is as intriguing as it is titillating; and the author’s skillful use of metaphor and simile made me pause to reflect time and time again. I had never explored the Bollywood scene before; but now I can’t wait to jump back in with Book 2. You may just see this white chick (me!) in a sari soon!!

Love this book, can't wait to read the next. Witty, engaging, and unpredictable, this one's a great read!

I'm not a Bollywood aficionado or remotely familiar with that culture, so this book was an attempt at trying something different. The writing is easy to read and the characters easy to understand. At times there were a lot of words (Indian I assume) that I didn't really understand but it didn't detract much from the writing and provided some additional authenticity. There was always something that made me keep reading in this chapter and the story smoothly manages the complex cast in a way that is easily palatable even to the not-so-attentive reader. It looks like there is another book after this and I'm looking forward to reading it!!

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden mysteries. I liked that Bollywood Storm promises to have more in store for the protagonist, Elanna Forsythe George, with at least a book 2 (I haven't read that one yet). We spend a substantial amount of time getting to know Elanna and her friends and support system. Her investigative gifts are intriguing -- I wanted to understand how she uses them on a day-to-day basis. The character feels authentic. I empathized with her wanting to improve and strengthen her skills. To me, it seemed realistic that she needed to recharge after physically and emotionally challenging occurrences and encounters. The focus on Bollywood offers an entertaining and enlightening glimpse into a world I know next to nothing about. The book has a certain spiritual aspect that I appreciate, although different from the usual Western perspective. My only complaint would be that right at the end, the timeline seemed confusing. Events seemed stretched out over weeks, but then, subsequent conversations implied less time had passed. That heightened my anticipation of Book 2, though, so maybe it was intentional to leave us with slightly uneven feelings.

Bollywood Storm is a multilayered book. Quite a few themes have been packaged into this fairly entertaining thriller. Bollywood, which is Indian cinema, is dominated by tear-jerkers, superfluous action and melodrama. This book follows the Bollywood trend albeit mixing it well with subtler observations and deeper insights. It might be a bit difficult for people not familiar with Eastern culture to understand every point made in the novel. But of course, different ideas converge here and even those who have little or no knowledge about Bollywood will be able to grasp the essence of what is being said. As a thriller fan, I’d say I didn’t enjoy this book so much. I found it to be unnecessarily dramatic at times. But this is my feeling entirely. I know many others would be pretty excited about how this book progresses. I thought it had too many additional elements that a thriller does not need to have. I liked the style of writing. It’s lucid and appealing. The author has introduced interesting themes and perspectives, but the problem is there are too many of them. The characters are likeable. I would’ve appreciated it more if the plot was a little simpler. But I guess it is true to its claim. It does well as a multilayered novel. However, as a thriller, it did not meet my expectations. That being said, do read it if you’re a Bollywood fan or looking to explore this realm. I'm going to rate it 3.7 on a scale of 5.

A great book and very entertaining read. Highest recommendation.

This was an amazing book, one that I could not put down. If mystery or detective novels are your thing then I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Now to wait with baited breath for what happens in book two. Bollywood Storm: Book One: New York

Bollywood Storm, Book Two: Mumbai

I was quite surprised by the ending but was an amazing story all the way through. The characters had depth and you could really know them and what they are experiencing. Thanks for a great pair of books.

This story builds upon Bollywood Storm: Book I and concludes with a satisfying resolution to the murder mystery. The setting and scene of Book II are patterned in the wonderful tradition of Bollywood movies, which means epic, colorful, and whimsical outward motifs coupled with dark emotional turmoil reflecting the struggles of life in India. This was true of the first book (which is set in America) but now it is immersive whereas in the first book the "desi" culture is merely sampled and one expects comforting returns back to the clean, rational, western sensibilities. Author NK Johel does a remarkable job of cueing the reader through the outward setting to anticipate and interpret the emotional and psychic transition within the protagonist, Elanna Forsythe George. There are suggestive but still potent depictions of rape and sexuality as manipulation, but the climax of the story is not contained in the perfectly paced chase scene or any of the song and dance numbers. The climax comes through Ms. George's atavistic journey that breaks her and remakes her, literally, into two avatars of her immanent being that battle for self expression and control. It's only in Ms. George's losing control and letting go of her false pretenses of her self that allow her to finally solve the murder. If one is sensitive to this I suspect the novel will be incredibly rewarding and may spur a journey of one's own.

Bollywood Storm Book 2: The pace picks up from an already quick shifting Book I ... NK Johel has broken the mold here ... she shows herself to be a fearless writer who follows no formula and somehow creates a genre all her own! Bollywood Storm Book II Mumbai is fresh and hot and so cool! It's Raymond Chandler meets Clive Barker mixed with a dash of booty shakin' and an undercurrent of honest, honorable personal inquiry. It's exciting and thought provoking!